Plans for second skate park in Pickering stir controversy

‘None of us want to see a skateboard park in our neighbourhood’

Proposed skateboard park

Jason Liebregts / Metroland

PICKERING -- Paul Crespo practised his ollie at the skateboard park at the Princess of Wales Park. The City of Pickering is looking into spending $200,000 to build a second skate park at East Woodlands Park. May 10, 2014

PICKERING -- Plans for second skateboard park in Pickering went off the rails Monday night.

Concerned residents spoke out at council’s May 12 executive committee meeting, taking issue with a City report that recommends spending $200,000 to build a skate park at East Woodlands Park, adjacent to the Petticoat Creek Community Centre.

“None of us want to see a skateboard park in our neighbourhood,” said resident Norm Miller. “We’re not interested in having concrete and graffiti stuck in a nice little park.”

Pickering currently has one skate park, located at Princess of Wales Park, and City staff said there is demand for a second one.

“When you compare the size and population of Pickering to other municipalities that have two or three skate parks, we thought that based on our youth population we should have another one,” said Arnold Mostert, the City’s senior co-ordinator of landscape and park development. “It’s a place for kids to skate without conflicting with cars and traffic, it makes it safer.”

East Woodlands Park is cited as a good fit because it is located on a major transit route, is close to the community centre’s youth room, and is a visible location that can be monitored by a City security guard during regular operating hours.

But residents who live nearby are concerned abut noise, loitering, litter, crime, graffiti and loss of greenspace in the park.

“Not all youth are the same ... but I feel that it may encourage some young people to make it a party place,” said Katherine Kisielowski.

She noted there is already limited greenspace at East Woodlands Park and said a skate park would leave nothing for families, library groups and daycares to use.

Resident Mary Lloyd is concerned plans for a new gas station near the proposed site would offer skateboarders a place to use the washroom and buy snacks long after the community centre closes, resulting in skateboarding “late into the night.” She said a better option would be an indoor skateboard arena, which would allow the City to make revenue and control the hours.

On the flip side, youth who filled out a questionnaire from the City were thrilled with the idea.

“There is nowhere to skate in this area. A skate park would be a perfect fit for this area. There are many skaters who have nothing to skate on,” wrote one commenter.

Justin Yeung, president of PAC for Teens Youth Council, spoke in support of the proposal on May 12.

“A new park would be welcomed by the youth of our community,” he said, noting it is “imperative” for the City to provide “safe and engaging” spaces for young people.

Sergio Bendana, a longtime skateboarder who frequents skate parks all over the GTA, told committee that skate parks promote active health at a time when more than one quarter of adolescents are obese.

“Skate parks keep kids out of trouble,” he added. “A lot of people think skate parks attract drugs, but it actually keeps kids away from drugs.”

The committee voted to send the issue back to City staff to “take a hard look at the location.”